2 from Nadaun held in money laundering case

Two businessmen were reportedly arrested by the Enforcement Department on Monday night in a money laundering case linked to alleged illegal mining.

As per reports, the arrested businessmen were identified as Gyanchand and Sanjay Dhiman. These businessmen are influential persons in Nadaun Assembly constituency and were allegedly involved in unfair mining practices. The ED had raided premises of these businessmen a few months ago and the investigation in money and gold stocks, etc., was going on since then.

It is learnt that they have been taken in custody under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the ED team. The arrest by the ED officials is learnt to be based on the basis of an FIR by Uttar Pradesh Police in Saharanpur.

Speaking on the arrests, former MLA Rajinder Rana alleged, "people close to the Chief Minister are in jail and many more could also face the music".

During the investigation, 12 search surveys were conducted on the premises of several alleged mining mafias, including Gianchand and his associates in Himachal and Saharanpur and statements of several persons were recorded. Investigation revealed that Gianchand and his associates were involved in illegal mining operations in Beas and Yamuna rivers. It is observed that money gained from illegal mining was used to purchase properties and mining machinery as alleged.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, while interacting with media, said just because some persons from his Assembly constituency were arrested, he should not be connected to it. He said that BJP leaders should refrain from making such statements.